Method of filling capsules



June 15, 1943. D. D. SMITH METHOD oF FILLING CAPSULES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 18, 1940 June 15, 1943. D.' D. SMITH 2,322,169

METHOD OF FILLING CAPSULES Filed Jan. 18, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June l5, 1943. D. D. SMITH 2,322,169

METHOD OF FILLING CAPSULES Filed Jan. 18, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet .'5*

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Jane 15, 1943. SMITH 2,322,169

METHOD OF FILLING GAPSULS June 15, 1943. D. D. SMITH 2,322,169

METHOD OF FILLING CAPSULES Filed Jan. 18, 1940 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www@ Qin

Y f- 2 ..90 l' y E Tg Tm" L Patented .Furie 15, 1943 UNl'lED STAT 32ste @EN @ENCE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to methods for filling of containers, such as capsules, or the like with powdered or finely ground material.

This invention is an improvement over the structure embodied in my Patent No. 2,155,335 which issued April 17, 1939.

An object of this invention is to provide a method which may be used by a druggist, hospital or the like whereby a number of capsules or like containers may be filled at one time in such a manner that a predetermined quantity of ma terial will be placed in each capsule.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for use in lling containers, receptacles or the like wherein powdered material, such as quinine which has a tendency to cake or form into granules, may be placed in the containers or capsules in an accurate quantity. Y

A still further object of this invention is to provide a method which will pack the material in the capsules or containers simultaneously with the closing or sealing thereof.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of a novel method which is hereinafter referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the combined capsule positioning and holding means forming the rst step in the filling of the capsule,

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 with an added element for guiding the material and the other capsule part,

Figure 3 is a vertical section partly in detail showing the manner of levelling the material and maintaining the material above the open capsule parts,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of the apparatus showing a material compacting device,

Figure 4a is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line da-ta of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through the device with the material separator positioned therein,

Figure 6 is a detail front elevaton partly in vertical section of the capsule lling means in the agitator,

Figure 7 is a detail front elevation partly broken away and in section of the capsule actuating or telescoping means,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section showing one capsule with the parts thereof in their respective positions prior to the operation of the capsule actuating or telescoping plungers.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the capsules in telescoping position with the material packed therein,

Figure l0 is a Vertical section partly in detail showing the step in the method following the uniting of the capsules,

Figure 11 shows a subsequent step wherein the capsules are ejected from the holder,

Figure 12 is a detail side elevation of the capsule lling means,

Figure 13 is a top plan View partly broken away of the combined capsule holding and positioning means,

Figure 14 is a top plan of the material divider',

Figure 15 is a detail top plan of the assembled capsule filling means,

Figure 16 is a fragmentary top plan of the capsule and material guiding means, and

Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i'l--ll of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, the rst to Figure l, the capsules which are to be lled are initially divided or separated and the part of the largest diameter which is known as the cap and which is designated 2U is mounted in a socket formed in a combined capsule holding and positioning means including a plate 2| which is provided with a plurality of sockets 22 therein. A second plate 23 which engages on the upper surface of the plate 2| is provided with a plurality of openings 24 which register with the sockets 22. The lower plate 2l is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending dowels or pins 25 which engage in openings 26 provided in the plate 23 so that the openings 2d will be disposed in register with the sockets 22. The capsule parts 243 are adapted to snugly engage in the openings 24 and the sockets 22 and the upper ends of the capsule parts 20 are'adapted to be substantially flush with the upper surface of the upper plate 23.

After all of the sockets 22 and the openings 2t have been lled with the empty capsule parts 22, a block or body 2l is positioned on top of the upper plate 23. The upper plate 23 is provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting dowels 28 which engage in openings 29 formed in the body or block 2l. The body or block 2l is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed openings 30 which register with the openings 24 and prefare adapted to engage outwardly projecting pinsl 35 carried by the block or body 21. In this manner the lower plate 2l can be released from the block 21 without releasing the upper plate 34.

A substantially rectangular hopper 35 iis adapted to engage the upper surface of the body or block 21 and is provided with a plurality of dowels or positioning members 31 which are engageable in the openings 2S so as to properly position the hopper 36 relative to the body 21. The hopper 36 is open at its upper and lower ends and the lower end of the hopper 35 is adapted to be initially closed by means of a slide or removable bottom wall 38 which is provided at one end with a handle 39. lIlie slide or bottom wall 38 is initially interposed as shown in Figures 3, 4 and la between the hopper 36 and the upper surface of the apertured body or block 21 so that when the material is initially placed in the hopper 36 the material will not fall downwardly into the openings 30. A measured quantity of powdered material M is placed in the hopper 36 on top of the slide or bottom wall 38 and then a levelling blade 39 carried by a pair of handles or bars 4i) is adapted to engage the material M. The two bars 48 are clamped together by means of bolts or clamping members 4| so that the blade 39 may be vertically adjusted relative to the slide 38. The lower edges of the bars or blade supporting members 4D are adapted to slidably engage the upper edges of the hopper 36 so that the blade 39 may be moved back and forth in order to properly level the powdered material within the hopper 36.

After the material M has been properly levelled off, this material is adapted to be compacted by means of a compacting device including a plate 42 having a handle or bale 43 secured thereto. This plate 42 is of a size such that it will readily engage within the hopper 35 and the plate 42 is adapted to be manually forced downwardly within the hopper 36 to compact the material as shown in Figure 4.

When the material M has been levelled and compacted, this material is then divided or separated by means of a divider or separator shown in top plan in Figure 14. This divider or separator generally designated as 44 comprises a rectangular frame 45 and a plurality of intersecting partitions 45 forming material receiving compartments 41 which are adapted to register with the openings 30. A handle 48 is secured to the frame 45 and provides a means whereby the divider or separator 44 may be readily positioned within or removed from the hopper 36.`

After the material has been separated as shown in Figure 5, the slide or bottom wall 38 is .pulled out from beneath the hopper 36. The material M may then gravitatingly drop downwardly in the openings 30 being guided bythe flared upper end portions 3l. Where the material is of a character such that the particles thereof will not form into granules, the separated material in the compartments or chambers 41 will freely drop downwardly through the openings 36 into the capsule part 20 with a portion of the material extending upwardly above the capsule part 25. However, where material such as quinine is being placed in the capsules. the material will not readily drop downwardly by gravity into the openings 35. In order, therefore, to provide a means whereby the separated material may be discharged or forced downwardlyfrom the chambers 41 into the openings and the capsule parts 2Q, have provided an agitator or shaker generally designated as 49. The agitator or shaker 49 comprises a base and upwardly extending supporting bars 5 l. The bars 5l are secured as at 52 to the base 53 and a transversely disposed supporting means is secured between the upper ends of the vertical bars 5l.

A platform 54 is disposed between the uprights 5l and is yieldably supported above the base 58 by means of springs 55. The springs 55 are secured by fastening means 56 to the underside of the platform 54 and the lower ends of the springs 55 engage dowels or pins 51 which are secured to the base 59. A pair of L-shaped stop bars 58 are secured to the uprights 5 above the base 55 and are adapted to limit the downward movement of the platform 54. Normally, the platform 54 is disposed slightly above the angle bars 5S. The capsule loading or iillimr means hereinbefore described is positioned on the platform 54 between upwardly projecting franges 59 carried by the marginal portions of the platform 54. The locked loading or filling means includes the two lower plates 2i and 23 which are releasably locked by the hooks 32 and 34 to the blocl: 21. The hopper 38 having the divider or separator 44 positioned therein is also disposed on top of the block or body 21. A transversely disposed bar 6G provided at the opposite ends thereof with downwardly projecting blocks 6| is positioned on top of the hopper 3E. The blocks 6I are provided with oii'set portions 52 engaging on the outer sides of the hopper 35 so as to hold the bar 68 against endwise movement relative to the hopper 36.

A fiat spring 63 is secured by fastening devices 64 to the under side of the bar Ell and this spring 63 is adapted to engage the upper central portion of the divider or separating member 44 so as to hold this divider or separating member against outward movement during the agitation or shaking of the capsule loading means. A rubber bumper 65 is secured by fastening means 66 to the upper surface of the bar 6i) in substantially the center thereof and a spring-pressed plunger 61 which is slidable in a guide 58 carried by the supporting means 53 is adapted to engage the bumper 55. The plunger 61 includes a head 69 and a stem 1) which extends upwardly through the guide means 68. A head 1l is secured to the stem 18 above the guide means 68. A spring 12 is disposed within the guide means 68 at its lower end engages against the head 66 and at its upper end engages against an inwardly projecting flange 13 formed with the guide 58. A plunger operating member comprising a plate 14 having a plurality of teeth 15 is rotatably mounted between a pair of upwardly projecting bearings 15. The plate 14 is fixed to a shaft 11 and a handle 18 is also Xed to the shaft 11. The teeth 15 are adapted to engage beneath the head 1I so that the plunger 61 will be raised against the tension of the spring 12 when the crank 13 is rotated. In this manner the raising of the plunger 61 will permit the springs 55 to raise the platform 54 olf of the angle members 58 and when the head 1| is released from a tooth 15, the spring 12 will force the plunger 61 downwardly. The capsule loading means is yieldably held on the platform 54 by means of a pair of springs 19 which at the lower ends engage outwardly projecting headed pins 80 carried by the platform 54 and at their upper ends engage outwardly projecting headed pins 8| which are carried by the opposite ends of the bar 60. The springs 19 are adapted to be releasably engaged with the pins 8| so that when the capsule loading device is positioned on the platform 54 the springs 19 may be engaged with the pins 8|. 'Ihis may be accomplished by providing relatively large eyes at the upper end of the springs 19 which engage over the heads of the pins 8|.

After the material in the chambers 41 has been discharged into the capsule part 20 and in the openings 30 of the body or block 21 the capsule loading means may be removed from the agitator 59. The hopper 36 with the divided 44 may also be removed from the body 21. At this time a second capsule part or body 82 is inserted in the openings 30 and permitted to move freely downwardly in the openings 30. In order to provide a means whereby the capsule parts 82 may be united in telescopic relation with the capsule parts 28 and at the same time the material M may be compacted within these parts, I have provided a compressing structure formed of a plurality of plungers 83 secured at one end to a head or block 84. These plungers 83 are provided at their lower or free ends with a concave seat 85 within which the rounded upper end of the capsule part 83 is adapted to engage. The capsule parts 82 are substantially smaller in diameter than the capsule parts 28 and are adapted to telescopically engage within the capsule parts 28. Where only a small number of capsules are being filled, the plunger body 84 may be manually forced downwardly relative to the block 21 and in order to provide a means whereby the plungers may be limited in their downward movement, I have provided a pair of stop members 86 on each side of the block 84. These stop members 8B comprise a bar or plate 81 provided with notches 9B. The upper end of the plates or bars 81 are pivotally secured on pivots 89 carried by the body 84. The body 21 on each side thereof is provided with a pair of stop pins 98 which are adapted to engage in selected notches 88 so as to thereby .limit the downward movement of the plungers 83. Each pair of stop members 89 are connected together by means of a link 9| which is pivotally secured as at 92 to each pair of limiting members 85.

However, where all of the openings 24 and sockets 22 are filled the plungers 83 cannot readily be moved downwardly by manual pressure nn the block 84. In this case, the capsule loading means includingthe body 21 and the two plates 2| and 23 are mounted between a pair of pressure plates 93 and 94. The plungers 83 and the block 84 are at this time inoperative postion relative to the block 21 and the limitingr members 89 have moved to a released position relative to the stop pins 90.

The plate 94 comprises a movable platform or plate and is mounted on a plunger 95 forming part of a jack structure 96. The jack structure 98 is constructed in the form of a hydraulic jack provided with a pump 91 and an operator 98. The jack 96 is mounted on avv/'base plate 99 and a plurality of upright bars |00 are secured at the lower ends to the plate 99. These bars |00 are provided with threaded upper portions |0| and nuts |02 and |03 engage on opposite sides of the upper or stationary plate 94 so as to xedly secure the plate 94 on the uprights |00. A pair of nuts |04 and |05 are also threaded on the bars |00 below the plate 94 and provided a means whereby the movable pressure plate 93 may be limited in its upward movement.

When the operator 98 is actuated the plunger will be raised and the pressure plate 93 will also be raised carrying therewith the capsule loading means including the plates 2| and 23, the block 21 and the plunger carrying block 84. The block 84 will engage the stationary plate 94 upon upwardmovement of the pressure plate 93 so that the plungers 83 will be moved downwardly through the openings 30 and force the inverted capsule part 82 into telescopio relation relative to the capsule part 20. The pressure plate 93 will move upwardly to the limit permitted by the stop nuts |05 which are locked by the lock nuts |04. Pressure on the plunger 95 may be released by means of a releasing valve |06 forming part of the jack structure 95 and when the pressure has been released the plunger 95 and the pressure plate 93 are moved downwardly by means of a pair of compression springs |01 which are secured as at |88 to the base 99 and by means of hooks |09 to the pressure 93.

The capsules at this time are in a completely filled and packed condition and the capsule loading device is then removed from the pressure structure shown in Figure 7 and the entire structure is inverted as shown in Figure 10. The bottom plate 2| is then released thereby exposing a portion of the socket parts 20 which protrude through the plate 23. When the plungers 83 have moved inwardly of the block 21 to the limit permitted by the stop nuts |05 or the stop members 86, the block 84 will be positioned in spaced relation to the adjacent face of the body or block 21. After removing the bottom plate 2| the stop members 86, where attached, may be released so that the body 21 and the plate 23 may be pushed downwardly until the body 21 contacts with the body 84. This is the position of these two parts shown in Figure 11. Downward movement of the body 21 will cause the telescoped capsule parts 20 and 82 to be moved upwardly for a distance suflicient to eject the capsule part 20 from the openings 24. The capsule part 82 is substantially smaller in diameter than the diameter of the openings 24 so that when the telescoped parts are in the position shown in Figure these capsule parts may be readily removed from the loading device by again inverting the device or shaking out the loaded capsules.

With a device of this kind, a number of capsules may be accurately loaded at one time with the desired material, the maximum number of capsules being limited by the number of sockets and openings provided in the two plates 2| and 23 and apertured body 21. However, where it is desired to use this device for lling a smaller number of capsules, a reduced size hopper may be used wherein the dowels 31 will engage within selected openings 30 of the body 21. A reduced size slide or bottom wall 38 will be used with the reduced hopper. In other respects, the entire apparatus may be used or if the number of capsules is small enough, the pressure device shown in Figure 7 may be eliminated Vand the plungers 83 may be Aforced downwardly by manual pressure on theblock 84. v u v u Where` the b lock 84 is manually Vforced downwardly, the stop members 86 will be used and will be swung to 4the positionshown in Figure 12. In order to provide an auxiliary stop means for the pressure plate 93, I have provided a substantially U-shaped slide member III) which is slidable on the opposite edge portions of the pressure plate 93. rIhis auxiliary stop member III) is provided with slots III through which the uprights IUD loosely project and pairs of blocks I I2 are secured to the opposite parallel legs of the slide member III! and are adapted upon inward movement of this slide member to be disposed for engagement with the stop nuts |84. 'I'he parallel legs of the slide member I IU are slidably secured to the pressure plate 93 by means of a pair of fastening devices II3 engaging through slots II4 provided in the parallel legs of the slide member IIB. The bight I I5 of the slide member III] comprises a handle by means of which the slide member may be pulled outwardly to a released position where desired.

With the use of a method as hereinbefore described, a predetermined quantity of material may be initially placed in the'hopper 36 and this material then levelled off and compacted by the compacting means 42 and 43. The separator 44 is then forced downwardly through the compacted material until the separator 44 engages the slide or bottom wall 38. The separator 44 provides a means whereby the levelled and compacted material will be separated into predetermined quantities so that only the quantities of separated material in each compartment will be discharged into the capsule parts 20 and the openings 30 of the block 21. In this manner an accurate quantity of material will be placed in the openings 30 and the capsule parts 2l] and this material will then be completely packed within the telescoped capsule parts.

What I claim is:

, 1. The method of simultaneously lling a plurality of capsules which includes positioning the capsule caps beneath a predetermined quantity of material, supporting the caps throughout their length, levelling the material above the caps, dividing the material into as many divisions as there are caps, agitating the divided material whereby the material will gravitate into said caps, telescoping a capsule body into each cap and smultaneously packing the material in the capsule whilesaid cap is so supported.

2. The method of simultaneously lling a plurality of capsules which includes positioning a plurality of capsule caps beneath a predetermined quantity of material, supporting the caps throughout their length, levelling the material above the caps, packing the material above the caps,Y dividing the material into as many divisions as there are caps, agitating the divided material whereby the material will gravitate into said caps, telescoping a capsule body into each cap and simultaneously packing the material in the capsule while said cap is so supported.

3. The method of simultaneously lling a plurality of capsules which includes positioning av plurality of capsule caps beneath a predetermined quantity of material, supporting the caps throughout their length, levelling the material above the caps, dividing the material into as many divisions as there are caps, gravitationally discharging the material into said caps, telescoping a capsule body into each cap and simultaneously packing the material in the capsule while said cap is so supported.

4. The method of simultaneously filling a plurality of capsules which includes positioning a plurality of capsule caps beneath a predetermined quantity of material, supporting the caps throughout their length, levelling the ,material above the caps, packing the material above the caps, dividing the material into as many divisionsas there are caps, gravitationally discharging the material into said caps, telescoping a capsule body into each cap and simultaneously packing the material in the capsule while said cap is so supported.

DANIEL DARLEY SMITH. 

